North London to M3 in rush hour?

[Chris71]

What do you reckon is the best way to get from North London (North Finchley to be precise) out to the M25/M3 junction (to head south west on the M3)?

In the middle of the day the North Circular round to the M4 and then out to the M25 works well, but the A406 seems to clog up during rush hour, so is it better just to back track to Potters Bar and pick up the M25 there, for example?

[llewop]

not sure the M25 would be a better option to be honest - that sector seems to have road works at the moment so tends to slow when busy. Unless any more regular travellers on the route have better information

[G Man]

North circular A40 M40 M25 M3 is what I would do

[plenty]

I go from Herts to Farnborough regularly and take the back roads through Bucks, via the Chalfonts, down through Gerrards Cross and Windsor. No quicker (comparable in fact to rush-hour M25/M3) but a whole lot more enjoyable and less frustrating.

[Laurel Green]

From North Finchley it might be OK to use the A41 up to the M25.